How 'Tidying Up' maven Marie Kondo brought neatness to the world

Professional organizer Marie Kondo says there's one thing to keep in mind when decluttering. The best-selling author and star of the Netflix series "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo" shared tips with USA TODAY in 2016.

USA TODAY

Our series “How I became a …” digs into the stories of accomplished and influential people, finding out how they got to where they are in their careers.

From becoming fascinated with the art of tidying at the age of 5 to starting her own organizing business as a university student in Japan, Marie Kondo and her approach to tidying has sparked joy in people all across the globe. Her New York Times bestseller “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” helped Kondo share her lessons with the world, and her Netflix original “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo” is up for two Emmy Awards.

Marie Kondo discovered her love for organizing when she was a child.

Marie Kondo discovered her love for organizing when she was a child.

KonMari Media Inc.

USA TODAY caught up with Kondo to talk about everything from the happiness she gets from organizing items into tiny little boxes to producing her own television show for Netflix.

Question: How did you get your start?

Marie Kondo: When it comes to tidying, I was interested in tidying ever since I was 5 years old, and by the time I entered middle school, I dove into researching tidying. I was 19 years old when I became a professional organizing consultant. One of my hobbies when I was in college was to go tidy my friends’ homes, and the word-of-mouth quickly spread that when Marie comes to visit your home, your home becomes incredibly tidy.

When I began my organizing consulting business, the wait list became half a year long, so I received a request from one of my clients that they wanted to read my lessons in book form, (and) that was how the book came to be.

Q: How has your career changed since?

Kondo: What I do to impart what I know about tidying hasn’t changed at all. But I’ve always mainly worked in Japan before – now, I have a lot of TV appearances, and the scale of my lectures and presentations I give certainly have changed. I also work predominantly in the U.S. now, so it’s changed quite a bit.

Q: What does a typical workday look like for you?

Kondo: For today, for instance, I’m writing a new book, so sometimes I do that. I also create videos related to my tidying lessons, and for Japan I have a Japan exclusive online service, so I have to write content for that. Very full days.

Q: What is your favorite thing about your job?

Kondo: I love creating storage. I like working with tiny little boxes, and it’s almost like a puzzle when it fits exactly into that space – my client’s space – that we’re working with. It feels so great.

Q: To what do you credit your success?

Kondo: I think I credit that to my home is tidy, but my decision-making skills are very tidy. I always feel like I’m attuned to what I need to be doing at that particular moment.

Q: How do you balance work, life and such a busy schedule?

Kondo: I wonder (laughs). In terms of balance, I always try to carve out a time that sparks joy for me, whether that is a time for reflection or relaxing and playing with my children. I make sure that I save that time so that I can always maintain myself to be at 100%, and then I try to think how to conduct my schedule in a most effective way.

Q: What have been some of your career highlights?

Kondo: I think that would have to be producing my own TV show for Netflix – it’s been amazing.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?

Kondo: To put it succinctly, I would to say to trust in what sparks joy for you. Trust in your own sense of what sparks joy for you.

Quick hits

What’s your tea order? I like pearl barley tea.

What’s your favorite book? “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert

What’s your favorite song of the moment? I like the sound of the Japanese bamboo flute.

Who has been one of your biggest mentors? It’s my grandmother, and she taught me to cherish each and every item that we have.

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done? I threw the first pitch at an Angels game.